Anna performs Latin Jazz, originals and favourites. Anna (Acevedo) Lyman is a Mexican-American, Latin-Jazz artist, born in Detroit. In her late teens she moved to Canada, where she completed High School, and received a 4-year Bachelor of Music in Jazz, Performance from Vancouver Island University, where she majored in voice, and minored in guitar.
Not a fan of boundaries, she writes inter-genre music that is a combination of Swing, Samba, Salsa, and Bossa. While it is harmonically Jazz-based, it is often Latin in Rhythm and attack. Her very first professional gig was at Expo 86 when she started a vocal group which successfully auditioned and performed at that venue.
Anna's vocal range covers 4 octaves, and is fully Tenor, Alto, and Soprano. In her childhood, she was exposed to the music of such legends as Sergio Mendes, Ramsey Lewis, Stevie Wonder, Ray Charles and many more wonderful, Jazz, Latin and Soul musicians. Anna was listening.
She has family and other ties to Mexico, Puerto Rico, and Brazil, so the Latin sounds she heard early in life, combined with Jazz and Motown flavours, to merge into a unique style. She describes her sound as "Bluenote Latin Jazz". Anna writes her lyrics in both Spanish and English in the same song, and scats to Latin music, which are both uncommon. She also does a lot of singing in Brazilian Portuguese and cites Rita Ribeiro and Sergio Mendes among her current influences.
Her song "Lighter" combines elements of Bossa Nova with Salsa treatments, and a laid back Jazz ballad feel. There is an underlying Rock feel in the placement of attack that contrasts with the luxurious Jazz-based scoops and falloffs, and sweet saxophone sounds of Phil Dwyer. "Lighter" was written and recorded during her final year at VIU.

Anna's music has been heard on CBC's "Hot Air", KJAZZ, and other programs, beginning in 2002 when she released her debut CD "It's Lush". She has been interviewed on CBC "North by Northwest", and has received positive critical reviews, such as JazzReview.com. Her new CD "Sway-Quien Sera" has also begun receiving radio airplay in the US. She has played or recorded with Keith Copeland, Dan Brubeck, Rick Kilburn, Bill Coon, Buff Allen, Daryl Jahnke, Phil Dwyer, Tom Keenlyside, among others, and has appeared, among others, at Victoria’s Jazzfest International, Pender Harbour Jazzfest, EXPO, and more.